We had a great time at this hotel. It's easy to find from the airport...you can take a taxi for ~45 euros or take the train/metro. There are two options by rail. The first option is to take the Leonardo express from the airport to Termini station, then transfer to the Metro B line to Cavour. The other option is taking the FM1 (aka FR1) train from the airport to Ostiense, then transferring via the underground walkway to the Metro B line at Piramide. Cavour is the third stop from Piramide. We took FM1 because it was half the cost of the Express/Termini option (6.5 euros compared to ~13 euros). We were also traveling during off peak hours and not during tourist season, so the trains were not crowded. Also, if you are heading NE on the Metro B line towards Rebibbia, the Cavour metro stop exits onto Via Leonina, just a very short, direct walk to the hotel. If you are heading S/SW on the Metro B line towards Laurentina, the metro exits onto the East side of Cavour and you will have to walk up and over Cavour to arrive at Via Leonina (Via Leonina sits below the street level of Cavour).
The staff at the hotel was very friendly. The breakfast was pretty good (bacon, eggs, bread, coffee) as well. The rooms were small, but normal for Europe. Our room contained a mini fridge, safe, and small balcony. The bed was very firm, but I had no trouble sleeping at night. The bathroom had a hair dryer and stand up shower.
If you are in decent shape, you can walk to just about any location in Rome from this hotel, but the Metro will give you easier access to the Vatican, Spanish Steps, and Villa Borghese.
It was amazing to walk to the end of Via Leonina and see the Colosseum in the distance to the left and the Church of Santa Maria ai Monti right in front of you. If you walk up up the steps next to the Irish pub, cross Cavour, then walk up another set of steps, you will be at St. Pietro in Vincoli.
There is a Gelateria/dessert shop across from the hotel entrance (http://www.ciuri-ciuri.it/ciuriciuri.php). Just down the street from the hotel is a nice chocolate shop (http://www.labottegadelcioccolato.it/collaborazioni.asp) There are also many places to dine along Leonina, Cavour, Serpenti, and Panisperna. Piazza Madonna dei Monti (http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/travel/28surfacing.html?fta=y) contains a cafe, market, and other eating establishments. There is also a grocery store on Via Cavour, just before the metro stop.
We did not have any noise issues from the Irish pub (http://www.finneganpub.com/FindUs.htm) mentioned in other reviews, but we were on the opposite end of the hotel.
Overall, we had an excellent time on our first trip to Rome.